In what was certainly the most contentious of the four Northwest suburban Cook County Board races, incumbent Elizabeth "Liz" Doody Gorman, an Orland Park Republican, fended off a challenge from Democrat Patrick Maher to hold onto the District 17 seat.

With 270 of 278 precincts reporting at press time, unofficial totals showed Gorman with 54,396 votes, or 59 percent, compared to 33,116 votes, or 36 percent, for Maher, also of Orland Park. Matthew Ogean of the Green Party received 5,009 votes, or 5 percent.

"It's been a long year with a lot of mud being thrown in my direction," Gorman said. "This shows the voters saw my accomplishments on the county board and my desire to continue to work for reform."

The issues often took a back seat to attacks between the candidates vying to represent the long, thin district, which stretches from Wheeling and Des Plaines on the north to Orland Park on the south.

Gorman, 45, who's in her third term, faced criticism from Maher for using $4,000 to $6,000 from a contingency fund granted to board members for tuition toward her master's degree and for questions about her finances raised by litigation with Chrysler Corp. over her husband's failed car dealership.

Maher, 38, was a target of attacks for not disclosing a guilty misdemeanor plea resulting from a fight over a girl as a college student. He also listed a wrong birth date on some candidate questionnaires.

With 233 of 256 precincts reporting, Goslin, a Glenview Republican, has 62 percent of the vote compared to 38 percent for Jenkins, a Northfield Democrat, according to unofficial totals.

Goslin said his top priority is to roll back the remaining half-percentage point from the sales tax increase, saying it puts an especially heavy burden on the 14th District, which borders Lake, McHenry and Kane counties.

He disputed Jenkins' claims he hasn't been engaged enough with residents, and says he's proven himself capable of getting work done despite sitting on a board dominated by Democrats.

Schneider keeps Cook post:

Incumbent Republican Tim Schneider won an easy victory in his quest for a second 4-year term representing the Cook County Board's 15th District.

With 284 of 286 precincts reporting, unofficial totals show Silvestri with 55 percent of the vote, Capparelli with 36 percent and Merck with 8 percent. He was first elected in 1989. The district includes part of Rosemont and Des Plaines, in 1989. He's also Elmwood Park village president, a position he intends to retain.